Stoner all set for V8s

Valencia

Published: November 13 2012 - 3:00AM

LIFE after MotoGP for Casey Stoner will involve driving a V8 Supercar. It's just a question of when.

Stoner pulled down the shutters on his celebrated bike racing career with third place in the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix in Spain, finishing third in the world championship following an injury-hit season.

The 27-year-old can now adjourn to his NSW farm or his home in Switzerland to spend the time he craves with wife Adriana and baby daughter Alessandra after tiring of MotoGP circuit life.

When he returns to the track on four wheels remains unclear. He looks certain to link with Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes at Triple Eight Racing when he does step into a V8, having tested successfully for the team in the past.

Stoner could make his racing debut - which would be in the second-tier V8 development series - as soon as February on the undercard of Adelaide's Clipsal 500.

But he could also opt to pick and choose his races throughout 2013 and start a full-time V8 career in 2014.

The development series is likely to have seven races next year. Stoner could drive in any or all of those, as well as test himself in the V8 Supercar top tier as a co-driver in the Sandown and Bathurst endurance races.

Walking away from MotoGP a dual world champion and inducted as the sport's 20th official legend after Sunday's race, Stoner admitted he lacked confidence on his Honda in miserable weather conditions at Valencia.

The Australian is still carrying an ankle injury following surgery after a crash in August.

''I took the easy way out today by starting on wet tyres and to be honest, I was scared of crashing in these conditions,'' Stoner said. ''There were a lot of crashes today and it was difficult. I put on slick tyres but my eyes were dinner plates as I didn't want to take my bike off the dry patch. I didn't want to take any risks out there.''

But Stoner was happy with the final chapter of a career that ended on a high late last month with his sixth successive Australian MotoGP win.

''It's fantastic to end [my career] this way. A big thanks to everyone, to my supporters all these years, there are a lot worse ways to go out,'' he said.

Stoner's Honda team marked the end of their rider's career with a sign hanging over the track wall saying: ''Going fishing''.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, who started from pole, won in Valencia after world champion Jorge Lorenzo crashed out.

Lorenzo had wrapped up the world championship at Phillip Island in the previous race, finishing the year with 350 points.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/stoner-all-set-for-v8s-20121112-2989o.html